A Fig Leaf of Endurance So Far

A review in Car & Driver points out that the electric Nissan Leaf Limo built by Imperial Limoland.com still needs to make some big gains in range. Most limousine companies will not invest in a vehicle that only gets a maximum of 58 miles in range before recharging for 12 hours. Unless a hotel is within a few miles of an airport, the limousine simply isn’t viable for transportation service. And the fact that it is a compact, however stretched, certainly qualifies it as ground transportation, but not of the luxury kind. Operators would not feel comfortable running a low-range electric vehicle between most downtown locations and outlying airports in most American cities. But until the range improves on electric vehicles overall, there is always a market for indulging green dreams at theme parks (Tomorrowland vehicles of the future?) or maybe using it as a high-end golf cart or shuttle showpiece at resorts with 18-hole courses. We look forward to the day technology and energy harnessing evolves to make large electric luxury vehicles stretchable with the same performance, cost, and profit potential as today’s fossil-fueled choices. Anything less is questionable. — Martin Romjue, LCT editor